If you could cater all kinds of media and products to represent your child as much as possible, so that they knew they could do or be anything, wouldn’t you?

Representation matters because it’s what your child looks to as they grow up; they want role models who look like themselves because it helps them imagine that one day they could be president or an athlete or an actress.

And whether this representation comes in the form of skin color or disability or anything else, it also shows young, impressionable minds that they aren’t any different (or any less) than everyone else.

Marley Dias knows this. And at 12 years old, she knows that it isn’t right that only 8.4% of trade books published in the U.S. last year had an African-American main character.

Not only that, but other girls of color like Pacific Islander, Native American, and Latino were practically non-existent. But instead of complaining or shrugging her shoulders and dealing with it — because this number shouldn’t be a shock to anyone — she did something about it.

To her, representation is more than just being able to relate to a character that looks like you; it’s also about learning more about who you are and reinstating the dimensions of self that are important for the growth of your girls, instead of having a one-dimensional character with no history or path.

At the summit, where she was surrounded by other successful and determined ladies of color including actress Kerry Washington and Natalie Warne, she spoke about how not seeing the representation black girls not only need, but deserve, turned her frustration into a true #BlackGirlMagic movement.

“I want this book drive to teach other kids that they can do whatever they want to do. Anyone can change the world however they want for the better! This book drive is supposed to inspire bigger change.” — Marley Dias

5. On including black girls as main characters.

"I’m working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine black girls and make black girls like me the main characters of our lives." — Marley Dias

“My parents have taught me the value of reading and self-love through books that have characters that look like me and talk like me. I want to make sure other black girls around the world can see and love themselves, too, through these books.” — Marley Dias

8. On innovation.

"Innovation is a typical adventure in a hero story, which I now live today." — Marley Dias

9. On telling black girls that they're beautiful.

If you see a Blackgirl, tell her she’s beautiful. More than that tell her that she is brilliant and that she shines. https://t.co/jAVWfr0u4s